HEREFORDSHIRE Council has marked the start of a new chapter for its highways and public realm services, with a new model designed to give greater local control and improved outcomes for residents.

Highways and public realm services include the maintenance of roads, drainage, street lighting, street cleansing, green spaces and winter gritting, services essential to keeping the county moving.

Services have now moved back under council control, with day-to-day oversight delivered in-house, and works carried out by new delivery partner M Group and a range of approved local contractors through a new framework.

Councillor Dan Hurcomb, Cabinet Member for local engagement and community resilience, said: “This is an important step forward for how we deliver highways and public realm services in the county.

“By bringing control back in-house, we can focus on what matters most to residents, better roads, well-maintained spaces and a service that responds more quickly to local needs.

“Most importantly, it puts us in a stronger position to deliver the high-quality, value-for-money services that people across Herefordshire expect and deserve.”

The new service has been mobilised carefully to ensure no disruption to essential services as the council brings its current contract with Balfour Beatty Living Places to an end.

The new delivery partnership with M Group places a strong emphasis on collaboration, safety and efficiency, with a shared commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality services for communities across Herefordshire.

M Group has also committed to delivering social value through the contract, supporting local employment, skills development and community initiatives as part of its work in the county.

Kevin Cotterell, contract director, M Group, said: “We’ve spent months preparing to ensure a smooth transition and are investing in plant and fleet and adopting innovative ways to improve the quality of highway maintenance.”